Mandolin orchestral attachment for pianos, organs, &amp;c.



No. 766,512. Y PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

N. E. NELSON.

Q MANDOLIN ORGHESTRAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS, ORGANS, &0. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1902.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1902.

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No. 766,512. PATENTED AUG. 2,. 1904.

N. E. NELSON.

MANDOLIN ORGHESTRAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS, ORGANS, 6m. urmou'xon rum) Jun: 11. 1902.

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N. E. NELSON. MANDOLIN ORGHESTRAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS, ORGANS, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11. 1902.

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mu ucu lo:- zit/mam)? UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

1 NELS EFRAIM NELSON, OF STROMSBURG, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO M. A. MAKEEVER, OF STROMSBURG, NEBRASKA.

MANDOLIN ORCHESTRAL ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS, ORGANS, 800.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,512, dated August 2, 1904. Application filed June 11, 1902. Serial No. 111,192. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NELs EEEAIM NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Strornsburg, in the county of Polk and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mandolin Orchestral Attachments for Pianos, Organs, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for pianos or organs; and the object thereof is to provide mechanism for producing the tone and a musical vibration imitative of a mandolin or similar stringed instrument which may be operated at will either simultaneously with or independently of the organ or piano and controlled from the keyboard of the instrument to which it is attached.

Another object of the device is to provide means for mechanically throwing one or more picks into vibrating contact with the strings of the attachment and for releasing the picks at will.

Another object is to provide means for muting the mandolin or piano each independently of the other.

Other objects, as well as the novel details of construction, will be specifically described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a piano having my invention applied, part of the front being broken away to illustrate the entire construction. Fig. 2is atransverse longitudinal sectional view through a piano to which my invention is attached. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sound-board and the strings applied. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one of the keys and the reciprocating bar carrying the picks. Fig. 5 is an end view of the supporting-bar, having the vibrating pickbar. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a portion of a piano, showing a slightly-modified form of mechanism for throwingthe mandolin attachment in operation. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sound-board. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the motor-wheel, the frame being illustrated in elevation. Fig. 9'is a side elevation of the motor-wheel, the Fig. 10 is an hub being illustrated in section.

end elevation of the fly-wheel and eccentric for driving the reciprocating pick-bar.

For the purpose of illustration the invention is shown as applied to apiano; but it can equally be applied to an organ or similar instrument, if desired.

The reference-numeral l designates a piano provided with the usual mechanism, and secured in the front thereof adjacent the pedals is a frame 2, in which is journaled a shaft 3, preferably hung in cone-bearings 4 and 5.

r The reference numeral 6 designates a ratchet-wheel which'is rigid to a motor-wheel 7, the ratchet-wheel and motor-wheel being loosely mounted upon the shaft 3. The motor-wheel or driving-wheel 7 is provided with a hollow central recess in which the ratchetwheel is located to permit of the insertion of a spring-pressed dog or pawl 8, carried by a pulley 9, arranged adjacent thereto and fixedly secured to the shaft 3. This dog or pawl is designed to engage the ratchet-wheel when the pulley is rotated in one direction only and to slip over the ratchets when the pulley reverses. A flexible strap 10 is supported by the pulley and passes over the same, and on one end of the strap is arranged a treadle 11, positioned near the pedals of the piano. The other end of the strap is secured to a spring 11, so that by pressing down the treadle the strap will rotate the pulley 9 by a frictional contact which carries the dog, thereby causing it to engage the ratchets to cause it to rotate the drive-wheel 7. Thus the ratchetwheel and the motor or drive-wheel will be driven in one direction only. Secured to a suitable hanger 12 in front of the piano is a crank-shaft 13, on which is arranged a flywheel 14 and a pulley 15. A cable or cord 16 passes around the pulley 15 and around the periphery of the motor-wheel 7 so that the rotation of the motor-wheel will rotate the pulley, the fly-wheel, and the shaft. A pit: man 17 is connected to the crank of the shaft 13, and secured to one end thereof is a link-bar 18, which has its opposite end connected to a vibrating pivoted bar 19 within the piano. This bar is arranged near the front of the piano, and the link passes up through the body thereof. A bar 20, similar to the one designated by the reference-numeral 19, is arranged at the opposite end of the piano and supports a pivoted vibrating picker-bar 21, which is arranged adjacent the strings of the mandolin attachment, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The picker-bar 21 is provided with a plurality of transverse slits or notches 22, through which project the picks 23, pivoted to a rod 24, countersunk in a groove in the bar and removably secured therein by means of buttons 25, arranged along the face of said bar. The rod 24 carries the successive picks, and by releasing the same the entire number of picks can be removed at one time for the purpose of repairing or for any other cause. The referencenumeral 26 designates the ordinary key of a piano, and at a suitable point on the top of the key is a spring 27, terminating in an eye or socket 28, which surrounds the headed end 29 of a vertical rod 30, which is connected to the pick. Each key is provided with a spring and rod, so that a resilient connection will be effected for each pick, and whereby each key will be provided with an independent pick, as will be explained hereinafter.

Arranged in front of the piano-action is a sound-board 31, which comprises a hollow box having attached thereto a substantially harp-shaped tubular frame 32 and braced by hollow vertical tubes 33, decreasing in length from the widest to the narrowest portion of the frame and having pointed ends, which are inserted in the frame 32, so as to provide a resonant frame for the strings 34, which are secured to the frame and to the box by the usual pegs and tuning-pins. The box is provided with suitable sound-openings 35 and with a diagonal bridge 36 to support the strings and transmit the string-vibrations to the sound-board. A headed pin 37 projects beneath the vibrating bar 21, and connected to the said pin is a transverse bar 38, which rests upon a hinged bar 39, supported at the rear of the piano by a hinge 40 and at its forward extremity by a vertical pitman 41,which projects through the bottom of the case of the piano and is secured to a hinged bar 42, arranged to the under side of the case. By pressing the knee upon the lever 43, which projects from the forward portion of the bar 42, the pitman and cooperating bars will throw the picker-bars slightly rearward, so as to bring the picks at a point in close proximity to the strings of the mandolin attachment. As the rods 30 are secured to the keys 26 in rear of their fulcrum, the picks will be caused to assume a horizontal position by pressing upon the keys in the usual manner. The horizontal position will cause the points of the picks to engage the strings, and as the bar 21 is vibrated back and'forth the picks will strike the strings, so as to cause them to emit sound. It will be readilyapparent that by pressing any number of the keys the corresponding strings will be vibrated. The bar 42 may be readily actuated by pressing the knee against the lever 43 at any time, and the movement of the bar 42 is limited by a stop 44, which is provided at one side of the lever 43 for that purpose.

The reference-numeral 45 designates a mute, which is arranged longitudinally of the piano and is supported by hinged bars 46, one on each end, which is spring-retained by a coilspring 47. Projecting from the bar 46 is a cord or cable 48, which passes down through,

the case of the piano and over a pulley 49 and is eccentrically secured to a pivoted disk 50, having at its periphery a button 51,which may be grasped by the performer to partially rotate the disk, so as to draw the mute down against the strings of the piano, and thus out out any sound while the keys are being operated except the sound caused by the mandolin attachment.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slightly-modified form of treadle,which is designed to be actu ated by one other than the performer for driving the motor. In this form the rod 52 projects from the top of the treadle and is connected to a lever 46, pivoted to the under side of the piano-case, and has a handle which extends out beyond the end of the case. Thishandle may be grasped by the operator, and by working the same up and down the motor-wheel can be actuated.

It will be obvious that in lieu of the treadlemotion any other motor may be employed, if desired; but I prefer the construction shown as particularly recommending itself for cheapness and durability. Of course many changes and alterations may be made from time to time without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as properly come within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. The combination with a piano, of an attachment carried thereby comprising a supplementary complement of strings, a vibrating bar, picks for the strings carried by the bar and a resilient connection between the keys of the piano and the picks, and means for operating the attachment either simultaneously with the action of the piano or independently thereof.

2. The combination with a piano, of a supplementary sound-board, strings thereon arranged in sets, vibrating picks for the re spective sets of strings, amotor for vibrating the picks, and a resilient connection between the keys and the picks whereby the picks may be thrown in contact with the strings.

3. The combination with a piano, of an attachment carried thereby comprising a supplementary complement of strings, a vibrating bar, picks carried by the bar, means for moving the bar toward and away from the strings to place the picks in operative or inoperative position with relation to the strings, and means for operating the attachment by the keys of the piano, either simultaneously with the action of the piano or independently thereof.

4. The combination with a piano, of a supplementary sound-board, strings thereon, vibrating picks for the strings, means for moving the picks into proximity with the strings, and means for throwing the picks into engagement with the strings by the keys of the piano.

5. The combination with a piano, of a sup plementary sound-board, strings thereon, vibrating picks for the strings, means for moving the picks into proximity of and also away from the strings, and means for throwing the picks into engagement with the strings, when said picks are in proximity thereto.

6. In combination with a piano and amandolin attachment, a mute connected to the piano, a rotating disk, a flexible connection secured to the mute and eccentrically secured to the disk, and means for rotating the disk so as to actuate the mute for the purpose described.

'7. The combination with a stringed soundboard, of vibrating picks arranged adjacent to the sound-board and designed to engage the strings, a key for each pick, a spring carried by the key, and an adjustable rod secured to the spring and to the pick for the purpose described.

8. In a device of the character described;

the combination with a stringed sound-board, a vibrating bar arranged adjacent to the soundboard, picks carried thereby and designed to be operated to vibrate the strings, a motor for vibrating the bar comprising a shaft, a

drive-wheel on the shaft, a ratchet also on the pulley and drive-wheel, a pitman on the crank-shaft, and a connection between the pitman and the vibrating bar for the purpose described.

9. The combination with a piano, of a supplementary complement of strings, vibrating picks for the strings, means for vibrating the picks, and means for throwing the picks into engagement with the strings by the keys of the piano either simultaneously with or independently of the piano-action.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. NELS EFRAIM NELSON. Witnesses:

(1 E. CLARK, E. A. SWANSON. 

